The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opposed a suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties, arguing that the legal conditions required for such action have not been satisfied.
The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators, is asking the court to compel INEC to remove the ADC, Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) from its register.
The plaintiffs argued that the affected parties failed to meet constitutional benchmarks outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
They maintained that the parties did not secure the minimum electoral performance required to retain their registration, including winning at least 25 per cent of votes in one state during a presidential election or securing elective positions at the national, state or local government levels.
However, INEC, in its response before the court, opposed the move, insisting that the constitutional and statutory grounds relied upon by the plaintiffs do not automatically warrant deregistration of the parties listed in the suit.
The electoral commission argued that the matter requires judicial interpretation and that the conditions cited by the plaintiffs have not been conclusively established to justify the deregistration request.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had earlier fixed May 5 for hearing in the matter after granting the plaintiffs leave to amend their originating summons to include additional parties allegedly in breach of electoral regulations.
Also listed as defendants in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation and the affected political parties.
The case is expected to test the scope of INEC’s powers under Section 225A regarding the continued recognition of political parties that allegedly failed to meet constitutional performance thresholds ahead of the 2027 general elections.
